I've got a Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2 I am pretty happy with, but sometimes for those fast and light climbs I prefer my rab ascent bivi which weighs 525g (18.5 ounces) if you take out the removable bug net.
It is just so much easier finding a flat spot to lay out a bivi than it is to find space for a tent footprint sometimes.
Ive had about 8 different bivies and they have all had massive amounts of condenstaion except the epic and eVent ones. The epic ones however leaked like a sieve when the thunderstorms started rolling in and Ive been pretty happy with the Rab ascent so far.

Thanks for everyone's input. I've been eyeing HMG's ice pack after Ive been pretty happy with their non climbing version
HMG ice pack
I'm from Australia where $500-600 hiking packs are common. Nearly everyone here uses macpac or one planet
http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/packs/packs-trek
But it seems like cilogear are hands down the concensus winner here. Never heard of them before in my part of the world. I like the look of those figure four packs too - similar to a mchale.
Many people here seem to have a smaller pack and a slightly larger pack. Ive already got 9 hiking packs but to get started in alpine climbing, probally best option is to go a smaller cilo and a slightly larger one in another brand like the figure four or something.

I'm after a alpine pack in the 30-40L range. I have been looking at the black diamond page and as a newbie, kind of bewildered by the range available.
has anyone had experience with the black diamond speed, axiom or axis packs, or can recommend any other packs in this 30-40L range? any particular features to look for other than crampons + ice tool attachments?
and do people find 30L enough for those 1 day alpine assaults with emergency bivy gear or is 40L more recommended?
All comments greatly appreciated!

The pack didnt come with any instructions so I had trouble attaching crampons onto these packs.
Most my other packs have shock cord webbing on the back for crampons but these just have 2 horizontal straps, and i had the feeling the crampons can easily fall out.
how do people attach crampons onto these packs?